Neptune System Yay or Nay?

[Mathieu Lafleur]

I'm looking into uprading my system next year and was very impressed with the various features of the neptune. Would you recommend.. Tank is a 180g with 60g sump. Not sure if my dosing pumps and lights are apex compatible tho.

 

[wesman42]

Yay if you have the money to continuously dump into it. Nay if you know even a shred about programming.

To be more helpful, neptune software is probably the most poorly written software I have ever cracked open. However, there's not a retail competitor because they use orange coloring and it's very obvious. People like the features they provide, but because I know what's under the hood I can't see past it.

 

[Smo]

It’s like park assist in your car. Once you get hooked on an Apex and see what all it can do for you...you can’t live without it. Huge improvement in reliability and system stability. Not to mention piece of mind when you are away from home.

 

[Mathieu Lafleur]

Yay if you have the money to continuously dump into it. Nay if you know even a shred about programming.

To be more helpful, neptune software is probably the most poorly written software I have ever cracked open. However, there's not a retail competitor because they use orange coloring and it's very obvious. People like the features they provide, but because I know what's under the hood I can't see past it.

Good thing I know noting about programming.. But can you ellaborate a little more.
Thanks.

 

[wesman42]

Good thing I know noting about programming.. But can you ellaborate a little more.
Thanks.

Sure, so I'll give you context. The price of the system is quite literally insane. They play off of others ignorance...and it works.

It's essentially a $30 mini computer with extra components. Look up Reef-Pi here on the forums. Other people have duplicated the Neptune system because quite frankly it's the farthest thing from revolutionary.

To put it into perspective, when you buy a Neptune product you are buying a Kia. All of the R&D was done by other companies and then they decided to smash them together into their own product and sell them for a 2000% profit margin. When Neptune has done their own R&D (trident) they are unable to actually do so...and disappointing Apex dude-bros everywhere.

My recommendation is to explore Reef-Pi, find out for yourself exactly how ridiculous the cost of an Apex is, and go from there on whether or not you'd rather pay for convenience vs DIY.

 

[TheHarold]

Yay if you have the money to continuously dump into it. Nay if you know even a shred about programming.

To be more helpful, neptune software is probably the most poorly written software I have ever cracked open. However, there's not a retail competitor because they use orange coloring and it's very obvious. People like the features they provide, but because I know what's under the hood I can't see past it.

What company are you using, that you need you “pour money into it” ? You buy it once... are you not familiar with the product? It is a controller.

Also- the user interface is practically perfect and there are virtually zero complaints about it. It smhas standard profiles that you set up, and “get started” takes you through setup.

It sounds like you are bitter or upset that you don’t have an apex? Just from the uninformed appearance of your post. “Pour money into it”.... my LITE is 8 years old and I haven’t done a thing? It’s elevtronics. Hardware. It doesn’t expire.

 

[TheHarold]

Sure, so I'll give you context. The price of the system is quite literally insane. They play off of others ignorance...and it works.

It's essentially a $30 mini computer with extra components. Look up Reef-Pi here on the forums. Other people have duplicated the Neptune system because quite frankly it's the farthest thing from revolutionary.

To put it into perspective, when you buy a Neptune product you are buying a Kia. All of the R&D was done by other companies and then they decided to smash them together into their own product and sell them for a 2000% profit margin. When Neptune has done their own R&D (trident) they are unable to actually do so...and disappointing Apex dude-bros everywhere.

My recommendation is to explore Reef-Pi, find out for yourself exactly how ridiculous the cost of an Apex is, and go from there on whether or not you'd rather pay for convenience vs DIY.

Your post continues to make me think you are bitter about not having an apex.

Please- show me a system for $30 that is even CLOSE to the features. Reef-pi is a fun thing for DIYers, if you want to spend hours on end working it out and still have less functionality. Not bashing it- but your posts are comical! Lol. $30- show me a darn salinity probe that costs any less than DOUBLE that. Uneducated and misleading post.

edit:

Oh you were the one that was complaining about BulkReefSupply because of MAP policy set by manufacturers... I remember.

 

[Smo]

If they weren’t worth the value they would not be so ubiquitous in the hobby, commercial use too in virtually every LFS I visit in the DFW area.

 

[Mathieu Lafleur]

Sure, so I'll give you context. The price of the system is quite literally insane. They play off of others ignorance...and it works.

It's essentially a $30 mini computer with extra components. Look up Reef-Pi here on the forums. Other people have duplicated the Neptune system because quite frankly it's the farthest thing from revolutionary.

To put it into perspective, when you buy a Neptune product you are buying a Kia. All of the R&D was done by other companies and then they decided to smash them together into their own product and sell them for a 2000% profit margin. When Neptune has done their own R&D (trident) they are unable to actually do so...and disappointing Apex dude-bros everywhere.

My recommendation is to explore Reef-Pi, find out for yourself exactly how ridiculous the cost of an Apex is, and go from there on whether or not you'd rather pay for convenience vs DIY.

Thanks!! I will look into it.

 

[scott11106]

Apex is the best thing i did for my build!
I am a proponent for the tank to run itself and i really like to make my life as easy as possible. The apex world is not cheap and that is true but if you can swing it you will not be disappointed in my opinion.

I built my system around using the apex and so far everything works great and i cannot complain. i did have a pump crap out and a few minor issues but neptune took care of me real fast and painlessly. If anyone thinks equipment of any type is going to be perfect they will be disappointed but it is a great system and easy to set up and use.

i do agree the programming side is a bit rudimentary but it works for me and im sure they will continue to update..how else can i write this post, flip to my browser and take a live snapshot of what is going on with my tank like this....

 

[TheHarold]

Thanks!! I will look into it.

Almost every high end reef you will see these days has one. It provides redundancy and monitoring of tons of aspects. If anyone mentions reef-pi to compare it- know that the reef-pi is a in-progress DIY controller that does a small portion of these things. It will also cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars to get anything close to these features, and have a mediocre (but in development) interface.

Some things I have mine do, ill list the "stock" things I use on the apex 2016.

Notification/warning:

Notify me if my skimmer is full.
Notify me if my ATO reservoir is empty
Notify me if my sump water level is low
Notify me if my sump water level is high
Notify me if leaks are detected anywhere.
Notify me if my temperature is out of range
Notify me if my pH is out of range
Notify me if my salinity is out of range
Notify me if any of my devices are using too much or too little power (A fault).

Take action:
Shut power to the heater if the heaters internal temperature controller fails. Common cause of tank crash,.
Turn off my skimmer if the cup is full.
Shut off all non-essential devices if the power is out (I have it on battery backup too run just a wave maker).
When I press one button, all pumps shut off so I can do a water change without fiddling with plugs.
When I press a feed button, the return pump and skimmer shut off for 15 minutes before resuming.

Used as a timer:
Controls the time that my 6 t5 bulbs are on
Controls the time that my 2 t5 bulbs are on
Controls the time that my refugium light is on
Controls the program of my LEDs
Controls the program of my skimmer-cleaner; every 6 hours.


Thats just some of the features I use on the standard 2016 unit. I also have their doser for my 2 part :). (Though currently off)

 

[dantimdad]

I'm looking into uprading my system next year and was very impressed with the various features of the neptune. Would you recommend.. Tank is a 180g with 60g sump. Not sure if my dosing pumps and lights are apex compatible tho.

You might as well have asked people to insult each other's mothers.

:D

This is THE most volatile subject next to lighting there is.

It is not necessary and it is a huge expense.

I have heard more bad than good about all controllers.

I have owned two different brands and both failed. Will never put all my eggs in one basket again.

That being said, if I were to try again, I would get a GHL setup. I have seen one running and it's pretty impressive for the money.

I myself, even if I won a controller wouldn't do one again, I would sell it.

Just my .02

 

[Monkeytank]

The general value of a product is what people are willing to pay for it, not how cheaply it could be made by someone who knows how to do it themselves. Nobody is forced to buy an Apex. Basic economics drive the price to a range that works. Many people buy them because it has a very solid reputation and provides a whole lot of functions that are very useful to simplify managing a tank and protecting it. I bought an Apex after using a cheaper alternative that wasn't as user friendly. I didn't have the time to learn how use it. In the end I lost more money than I tried to save because I couldn't sell it for anywhere close to what I paid for it. Neptune's customer service is outstanding. If you want a product that works very well for thousands of people, has a very large following with a community of people you can connect with, and has great customer support, then go ahead and get an Apex without worrying.

Nothing is fail proof. You could rely on a controller and still have a problem. However, it is much more likely you will have it help you than hurt you. If it was not worth having for most people, you wouldn't be even asking this question because Neptune would be out of business.

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

It’s like park assist in your car. Once you get hooked on an Apex and see what all it can do for you...you can’t live without it. Huge improvement in reliability and system stability. Not to mention piece of mind when you are away from home.

^Well said, and I agree completely.

Is an Apex a necessity to be successful? No. Does it make life easier? Yes.

One can be DIY'd using a Pi but by the time you buy all of the equivalent parts/probes to get the same functionality (you cannot just compare what is "close"), you can't get the same thing without countless hours to tinker.

After having my first Apex at home I will not run another tank without one.

 

[TheHarold]

You might as well have asked people to insult each other's mothers.

I have heard more bad than good about all controllers.


Just my .02

Can you link me to some really nice SPS (requiring a ton of stability) tanks on R2R that don't use a controller? Look at the title of your build; different people are going for different things.

 

[wesman42]

Your post continues to make me think you are bitter about not having an apex.

Please- show me a system for $30 that is even CLOSE to the features. Reef-pi is a fun thing for DIYers, if you want to spend hours on end working it out and still have less functionality. Not bashing it- but your posts are comical! Lol. $30- show me a darn salinity probe that costs any less than DOUBLE that. Uneducated and misleading post.

Ad hominems don't impact my ability to give unbiased information or spread truth. Quite frankly, you insult my intelligence. I am not only a computer scientist, but I am profoundly gifted. I used to have an Apex. I tore it apart to figure out exactly what was running it, before selling it and realizing that they're simply the only company that has taken the risk....soon they won't be.

I am a computer scientist, I graduated magna *** laude, and I received the highest calculus 1,2,3 scores of any student at my University, with over 100% (professors all gave extra credit questions on exams).

I certainly know my way around numbers, which is the building block of anything computer-oriented.

I'm telling you how it is. Many people would rather pay the exhorbitant price for convenience and "ease" of use even though they make you program the thing by yourself anyway using their procedural, declarative psuedo-language.

Please continue telling me about how my opinion doesn't matter and that it's comical even though it's based on science.

 

[CC13]

Your post continues to make me think you are bitter about not having an apex.

Please- show me a system for $30 that is even CLOSE to the features. Reef-pi is a fun thing for DIYers, if you want to spend hours on end working it out and still have less functionality. Not bashing it- but your posts are comical! Lol. $30- show me a darn salinity probe that costs any less than DOUBLE that. Uneducated and misleading post.
edit:
Oh you were the one that was complaining about BulkReefSupply because of MAP policy set by manufacturers... I remember.

Not everyone who doesn't agree the APEX (or any controller for that matter) is worth the money is bitter about not having a controller. On a component and build quality standpoint, there are other controllers out there that are cheaper and use better quality components.

I have used both GHL Profilux and Neptune APEX.

GHL in my opinion is built far better and overall allows you to do far more. I have yet to find anyone that has used both that did not prefer the Profilux granted they actually know how to utilize it to its potential. The caveat when comparing the two units is with the Profilux you need to have somewhat of an understanding of programming or ask others who have one to help out if you don't.

Apex takes into account that not all know how to program and allow you to click and play (almost literally), but overall in my opinion uses lower quality components.

Overall I would say the GHL and its components are far better built and of higher overall quality. On an overall basis far superior. Its slightly harder however to find replacement stuff if you need it because not as many retailers carry the GHL line. I will note that the APEX forum and customer support is top notch and the guys that work there are incredibly helpful no question.

 

[Waboss]

Ok, so I'll chime in here since I've used an Apex, as well as other controllers, and currently I'm running 'old school' with no controller (but that's about to change due to me traveling a bit and wanting some way to monitor my system).

It's totally worth it.....maybe. It's worth it IF the monitoring and some level of redundancy/automation is worth it to YOU. I personally liked it, and other systems, simply for the monitoring piece so I can have potential issues addressed asap.

Some people love them, some hate them.....just depends on the person and what features/conveniences are important to you.

My only advice would be to look at other systems as well as the Apex and determine what it is you like, or don't like, about them. Then make your decision.

For what it's worth, my system has never looked better since I went back to timers and power strips (stopped tweaking things and chasing numbers). BUT with me doing some extensive traveling soon, I need a way to keep an eye on things.

 

[landlubber]

best luxury upgrade a person can add to their system imo. Neptune makes some great stuff.

 

[dantimdad]

Can you link me to some really nice SPS (requiring a ton of stability) tanks on R2R that don't use a controller? Look at the title of your build; different people are going for different things.

I am sure I could if the mood struck. I had a successful SPS tank for 5 years before I added a controller and went out of town 3 months after and it failed miserably.